Dozens of Kosovo Albanians gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in New York to protest last week’s verdict by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders.
The demonstration took place as world leaders gathered inside the UN complex for the General Assembly. Protesters expressed their opposition to the verdict, which they described as unjust, chanting “UÇK” and holding banners calling for the release of the former KLA leaders.
Among those attending were people who had fled Kosovo during the 1998–1999 war. Some protesters displayed banners referring to wartime killings and their personal experiences of displacement.
One banner carried by a young protester referred to the May 14, 1999 massacre in Qyshk, stating that the person carrying it had been seven years old at the time and had survived the violence. The banner also called for the release of the former KLA leaders.
The demonstration was monitored by law enforcement authorities, and no incidents were reported.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers recently found former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi guilty in the case concerning alleged crimes committed during the 1998–1999 conflict.
Thaçi and Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, Veseli received an 18-year sentence, and Selimi was sentenced to 13 years.
The verdicts are subject to the applicable appeal process before the Specialist Chambers.
